So, I need some help with video resolution. I am working on a making a CH video, but I am a bit confused about video resolutions and such not. I have a complete round, with all of the graphic and special effects aspects I want. I've also created my title and a couple of cut scenes, and I've published as a test the title, 1st completed round, and follow on cut/break scene as a test. To me, the video looks choppy. It looks so both on my computer, a 6 year old laptop that is having its limits pushed on this project, and on my hdtv when I put the video on a flash drive and play it through my blue ray. A little about the source material. I have originally used only 720hd or higher clips from free downloadable tube sites (I think this may be an initial problem). When I published the final project, I published in 720hd format, it has been awhile so I don't remember the bit rates etc. but I do know I set frame rate at 29fps and audio at 192kbps. I can't tell you if I used h2.64 compression, but I think I was trying for the most uncompressed format possible. Since my disappointment in the perceived choppiness of the end product, I have revisited my thoughts on source videos and begun to redo the project using Empornium as my source (still only 720, 1080 is beyond my hardware's ability).
My question is, what are the resolutions/formats/codecs/bitrate settings I should tell my editor to publish with to make the best product possible and is my rethink on source material correct? I will post my original first test publish as soon as I can for those experts that would like to see for themselves (I am setting up on mediafire unless you've a better idea), all of you who have given me such great ideas and posted truly helpful How To's, and anyone else who is interested. It may take me a day or so to get it up as my time is limited (and I have to figure out how to:). Thank you in advance for your help, and my apologies if this is a duplicate post.
Ender Wiggins wrote:
what are the resolutions/formats/codecs/bitrate settings I should tell my editor to publish with
Rendering using 30fps, 720p and h264 (as you said you were) is all correct. About a 5000kbps to 6000kbps bitrate is good for quality, make sure it's a double pass encode.
You may want to update your codecs if you're using some old 3rd party xvid/divx codecs from a community pack or something. I once had a very old version of the divx codec installed and that was causing me issues when encoding. I uninstalled it and that fixed my issues.
Posted the test file link above. Since I am changing the source material, don't expect the same models. I welcome help and suggestions, especially concerning settings. Special thanks to Brewster for his reply, especially since it was his how to videos that got me over the, erhmm, hump.
Good questions, hard answers. The output configuration dépends first on usage requirement and second on input properties.
As it is to be seen on computer, progressive output in the best, unless all source videos are interlaced with the same field order and with the same frame rate. The good thing is that normally streaming websites publish progressive videos so i guess this a an easy choice, just make sure yoú are making it.
The biggest error poeple do is mixing 4:3 and 16:9 (or sometimes other formats), please stick to only format unless you are ready to accept degraded quality (streched image or black bars). Also make sure your videos are on their original format (sometimes you see on the free porn websites videos already streched or with build in black bars, just avoid those). Not that some mobile shoot videos might have unconventinal formats (like 1:1 square image).
For the definition it always better to chose the lowest source definition ur using, also it better to have some standard, like if you want 720p accept nothing less, if you want 360p 360p should be your minimum acceptable source. Still sometimes if the video is low res but hi quality you might accept it and keep ur project higher (not that zooming more then x2 is always bad, usually avoid any zoom more than x1.5).
Also it is good the think of the download size and older computer, the higher the resolution is the bigger the file is. well usually a 720p is a good resolution if the compressor is good.
Bitrate depends on the codec, basicaly just try exporting 1 minute and see the quality and file size. usually if you have smaller text or graphics you will need higher bitrate to make sure it is net enough.
One important thing to know is that the quality of your source is the best it will be in the final video, so make sure the videos you upload are at least satisfying.
As for the format, and after my personal experience wmv is far the best concerning quality/file size ratio. It allows you to have a great quality with a smaller file size.
About frame rate try and see what the sources are, if it is the same for all stick with it, if not try fining one fitting all, it's always best to stick with standards 25 (PAL) or 30 (NTSC) and it would be handle best if someone Watch it on his TV screen. Although if the source videos have very low frame rates (10-20 fps) use a lower one, to avoid frame duplicates, and let the user's computer handle the rest.
Your adio rate is good maybe the best, chose mono if you have no stereo sources (to reduce file size). If you feel some sounds are distorded try 256kps(but i dont think it will be necessary). 48kHz is usally the best simple rate, sometimes you might have 24kHz to save file size. Note that audio have very little impact on file size, so an important reduce of quality will only reduce a few kBs/min.
And one final rule: all rules are flexibles and no two projects are the same (unless they are for the same output like TV braodcast or Youtube, or theater). With my experience as a Professional video editor I had to make tests for every single new project I do, because even if the size and quality are standards, their are always small tweaks that depend on the source).
Thank you all for your fantastic information and help! I have been off here, and the project, for a while now due to hardware issues. Computer got an infection and I was not comfortable doing any work or logging into any sites of import until I knew it was clean. The click.prv??? or whatever it was re-direct thing was a real bitch to get rid of! It basically ate all of my poor old laptops' resources and made doing anything, even opening a browser, an incredibly difficult task. For the moment, I am on hold as far as the CHSH project is concerned. Not because I've lost interest, but because I've come to realize my ambition far outstrips my hardware's ability (much like anytime I try to complete one of AwesomeX's vids!). It is simply so frustrating trying to complete simple tasks such as cutting and editing videos when it takes hours but should only take minutes. I lose the flow of what I want to create and it makes it hard to come back to. I keep working on it slowly, but until I can upgrade to hardware that can accommodate what it takes to make a truly great vid, my dream of being a producer rather than just a consumer will have to wait. I apologize to you all.
